Agriculture is an important industry in south carolina (#1), the united states and the world

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded South Carolina State University $568,673 on January 15, 2026, under the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program (CFDA 10.216) to design a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Veterinary Sciences and Natural Resource Management, develop curriculum and practical experiences, recruit and admit students, and provide learning and professional development opportunities through the newly reestablished College of Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences.

The award addresses the reestablishment of agricultural educational programming at the 1890 land-grant institution after a 30-year gap, enabling SCSU to expand academic offerings in food and agricultural sciences alongside its existing research and Extension activities in natural resource management, agriculture technology, and 4-H youth programs. Performance occurs in Orangeburg, South Carolina, over a period of performance from January 15, 2026, through January 14, 2029. The award supports the White House Initiative to promote excellence at HBCUs.

Its services are associated with food security and care of natural resource challenges. As a land grant university (LGU), south carolina state university (scsu), the 1890 of the state, has been without a college of agriculture educational program for over 30 years. Leaving key educational opportunities to clemson university (CU). Some south carolinians choose to leave the state for educational opportunities in agriculture or select alternative degree programs. At scsu, 1890 research and extension (1890 r/e) have made significant impact in agriculture through investments in facilities, personnel and equipment to address natural resource management (NRM), agriculture technology and 4H-youth programs. However, academic programs have been lacking. Scsu recently approved the reestablishment of the college of agriculture, family and consumer sciences (cafcs). The focus of this proposal is to design a bachelor of science degree in animal and veterinary sciences as well as natural resource management and to develop relevant curriculum and practical experiences. Further, to recruit and admit students to the program and provide learning and professional development opportunities. This project supports the white house initiative to promote excellence at hbcu executive order.